Working Woman Series – Volume II – From Roses

When you see someone successful it’s easy to think that its all come effortlessly to them. Why is this so? When that’s rarely the case, especially with professional women. In this series I hope to explore the professional realms of different working women, how they’ve got to where they are today, and what nuggets of wisdom we can be empowered by moving forward with our own careers.

This is a monthly catalogue of question and answer interviews, called the Working Woman Series. I hope you enjoy reading these pieces, as much as I enjoyed interviewing these inspiring women.

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February brings us such an exciting installment of the Working Woman Series, well it certainly is for me anyway, as this lady is someone I’ve looked up to and followed for an awfully long time.
Rebecca Warriner is a 27 year old photographer and blogger who resides in the beautiful Nottingham countryside. Lesser known day to day by her full name, if you know Rebecca you’ll know her by her online alias, From Roses. As Rebecca is a full time beauty and lifestyle blogger, she dedicates her days creating beautiful online content for the everyday girl. From skincare to style, and even to mental health, collaborating with brands on campaigns and projects. Rebecca shares with us her insights into the day to day, and everything that life may throw at us.

Now time to geek off a little; Rebecca’s skills as a photographer don’t just come down to a keen eye and beautiful styling; She graduated from University with a first class honors degree in Photography with Editorial & Advertising. Now anyone could know this (as she does tell us so on her website) however, I know all this as Rebecca and I actually graduated from the same University, from the very same course, just one year apart.
It’s a real treat for me to have her as part of this series, as following her career develop over the years since Uni has been such a pleasure, and she’s been such an inspiration to me. I’m not even sure Rebecca knows about my girl-boss crush, but what a time to tell her ey?

All embarrassment aside, Rebecca tells me more about her career has developed and changed over the years “…When I came out of university I went to work with my sister as a classroom assistant… During that time I had some health issues flare up leading me to take 11 months out of the work place, and due to complications I became self-employed. I did little photography jobs and then started up an online magazine with a close friend which we ran for a couple of years. During that time I was constantly blogging still and building up my audience. When we closed the magazine that’s when I decided I wanted to run the blog full time.”

And if all the reasons above aren’t enough to compel you to keep reading, have you heard about her gorgeous pooch Josie..?

If this doesn’t get you reading, I don’t know what will.

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What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

Your job isn’t to answer e-mails’. I’m an absolute slave to my inbox and can get lost in it for hours but that isn’t the only thing I have to focus on. Everybody seems to constantly talk about e-mails but it’s not my full time job.

What’s your on-the-go snack for when you’re out and about on a busy day?

Right now, I’m really into apples. Last year I stopped eating fruit for health reasons and I’m so slowly working it back into my diet and thoroughly enjoying it.

How do you balance your personal life with work?

To be honest, I don’t. It’s still something I struggle with and having a boyfriend who on average spends a good 9/10 months away from home it’s meant that I’ve developed an odd work pattern as I’ve become so used to having my time completely to myself. This year saw a big change though and I’ve struggled striking a balance, so each day I try to have at least 1 hour where I’m not sat on a screen. It’s something I’m constantly working towards and it changes constantly but I certainly struggle.

What maxims do you live or work by?

‘You do you’ – for so long I was so consumed by what other people were doing it controlled my life and was such an unhealthy pattern to get into. Focusing on myself and letting other people do the same has made me so much happier.

What is your favourite Instagram account? Why?

I mean, obviously my dogs Instagram is one of my favourites because she’s the light of my life (@josiethewhippie) but as that’s completely biased. I have to say right now @rebecca.kathryn, she’s somebody who I’ve connected with as we both have whippet crosses and they’re totally unique, she’s an illustrator and just a generally lovely person to speak to.

Do you feel there is inequality in the workplace in 2018? If so, what can be done to inspire young people to break this?

As I don’t work in a traditional environment I feel like I can’t answer this properly. But in the blogging world, certainly not. There are so many issues in this industry that have to be tackled, issues with being paid, spoken to and treated like absolute garbage by the vast majority of people and so many more things to deal with on a daily basis. As a predominately female industry in general it seems to be treated as an easy life, a simple career that is a luxury.

How do you respond to other people’s reaction to your career success? Whether it be positive or negative?

In general, I think whenever people find out what I do their response is generally pretty similar. They ask me how I make money, is it real job and then just general queries of how it works. As it’s still something that is so new, people are fascinated.

What career set backs have you had to overcome? And what have you learned from them?

One of the biggest ones is to make sure you can pay your bills. In 2016 I made a big financial loss due to companies going bankrupt. That made me realise when you’re your own boss and you’re in charge of everything, you have to be smart with your money.

What are three things in your work arsenal that you just couldn’t live without?

My camera, my MacBook and probably my phone. Without them I wouldn’t be able to do my job, if I can add in a bonus one i’d say it’d be a notepad, as I’d also be lost without my lists.

What’s your biggest goal for the next year ahead?

Probably to find a little more a balance and take more time away from my work. And also just to embrace work and keep on doing what I’m doing and make it as awesome as I possibly can.

Inspired by Rebecca’s career? Reach out to her on Instagram.@fromrosesxo

I love Rebecca’s blog and she seems like such a lovely person. I also love that ‘You do you’ mantra. I can get really swept up in comparing myself and in comparing my rate of growth to other people’s, but when I just focus on myself it’s so much better for my mental health.

Thanks for your comment Julia – yes I love Rebecca’s mantra too, I think in a world of social media statistics hearing another blogger saying something inspiring adds a bit of clarity to the situation. Have a wonderful Monday x